Chronic Bronchitis Case Study Essay

R.W. appears with progressive difficulty getting his breath while doing simple tasks, and also having difficulty doing any manual work, complains of a cough, fatigue, and weight loss, and has been treated for three respiratory infections a year for the past 3 years. On physical examination, CNP notice clubbing of his fingers, use accessory muscles for respiration, wheezing in the lungs, and hyperresonance on percussion of the lungs, and also pulmonary function studies show an FEV1 of 58%. These all symptoms and history represented here most strongly indicate the probability of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a respiratory disease categorized by chronic airway inflammation, a decrease in lung function over time, and gradual damage in quality of life (Booker, 2014).

In this reflective piece of writing I will be explaining how chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects the patient physically, psychologically ,and socially ,I will also explain how the disease affects his daily routine and how it impacts on his family life. I will give an overview of the clinical signs and symptoms, how the disease alters the pathphysiology of the lungs, and what these changes cause within the body.

Within the confines of this assignment, it is the hope of the author that the reader will obtain an understanding of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This will be achieved by bringing the reader through the patients’ illness journey. The assignment will begin by defining COPD and briefly going through the pathophysiology and incidents of the condition. From there the reader will embark on the journey, starting with diagnosis.

The World Health Organization (WHO) (2006A) defines COPD as a disease state characterized by airflow limitation that is not wholly reversible. The airflow limitation is usually both progressive and associated with abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles or gases. John's chronic bronchitis is defined, clinically, as the presence of a chronic productive cough for 3 months in each of 2 successive years, provided other causes of chronic cough have been ruled out. (Mannino, 2003). The British lung Foundation (BLF) (2005) announces that chronic bronchitis is the inflammation and eventual scarring of the lining of the bronchial tubes which is the explanation for John's dyspnea. The BLF (2005) believe that when the bronchi become inflamed less air is able to flow to and from the lungs and once the bronchial tubes have been irritated over a long period of time, excessive mucus is produced. This increased sputum results from an increase in the size and number of goblet cells (Jeffery, 2001) resulting in John's excessive mucus production. The lining of the bronchial tubes becomes thickened and an irritating cough develops, (Waugh & Grant 2004) which is an additional symptoms that john is experiencing.

22 plus years of smoking- smoking has been directly linked as one of the number one causes of Chronic bronchitis/COPD.

The R.S is likely to show signs of wheezing in his breathing and a productive cough/sputum. These coughs could last for months. Shortness of breath and chest discomfort are also common in patients with chronic bronchitis. The R.S. could be suffering from hypoxemia (low oxygen in the blood) and polycythemia (over production of hemoglobin in the blood due to the RBC's trying to compensate for the lungs not working to their full potential). Cardiac failure could be present, which is important in this case due to the fact that our R.S. has a history of coronary artery disease. Emphysematous COPD clinical findings include shortness of breath and intermittent dyspnea (difficulty in breathing). Dyspnea in this case is progressive and the R.S. could

There are a number of clinical findings that can be consequences due to R.S. COPD. R.S. has developed chronic bronchitis also coined as typed B COPD or the blue bloater. A productive cough or an acute chest illness is common. The cough mostly is worse in the mornings and creates a small amount of colorless sputum. Wheezing may occur in some patients, predominantly during exertion and exacerbations (Mosenifar, 2014). Alterations in the airway involve chronic inflammation and swelling of the bronchial mucosa causing scarring with increased fibrosis of the mucous membrane. There is hypertrophy of the bronchial glands and goblets cell with an increase in bronchial wall thickness, which leads to an obstruction of airflow. Goblet cells and mucosal glands that experience hypertrophy cause a product of increased mucus that then combines with purulent exudate

The study included 100 patients with COPD. All patients fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. According to its demographic and clinical parameters and treatment groups differ among themselves. Completed the study, all patients included in the study. The therapy in all patients with a clinically meaningful improvement of symptoms was observed.

Progressive, persistent airflow limitation and chronic airway inflammation are both characteristics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A combination of diffuse small airway disease and destruction of lung parenchyma, also known as emphysema, are the results that cause persistent airflow limitation. Spirometry is used most often to diagnose. The ratios that are checked are forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second. COPD is diagnosed in stages ranging from mild to very severe. The diagnosis is also based on age and sex of the patient. Age is a factor because due to the fact that as we age the FEV1/FVC declines. (European Lung White Book Chapter 13)

Their are two major types of COPD, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In emphysema the walls between the air sacs are destroyed. In turn the sacs loose their shape. Their become fewer larger air sac instead of of numerous smaller one. This causes problems with the body getting enough oxygen ("COPD"). Without oxygen the body has to use anaerobic respiration, this is only a short term solution. Our bodies can do this but it produces lactic acid. Our bodies normally use aerobic respiration with requires oxygen. Chronic Bronchitis is when the airways are irritated and inflamed. The linings of the airways also become thick, along with an excess mucus formation. This causes breathlessness ("COPD").

Defіnіtіon of COPD The Global Іnіtіatіve for Obѕtrustіve Lung Dіѕeaѕe (GOLD) Guіdelіneѕ defіne COPD, chronic progreѕѕіve dіѕeaѕe, even after admіnіѕtratіon of Broncodіlatorѕ but not full reverѕіble aіrway obѕtructіon іѕ charasterіzed. The aіrway obѕtructіon іѕ cauѕed but mіxture of obѕtrustіve causes bronshіtіѕ and bronchial іnјuruy and іѕ an abnormal inflammatory with the lungs associated with harmful particles. Symptoms of COPD are chronic and progressive dyspnea, cough and sputum production. The diagnosis of COPD and backup is done in addition to the clinical diagnosis of the Spirometry. It should be assumed that COPD when the forced post bronchodilator force expiratory volume (FEV1) less than 80% of the

These tests or examinations may include the following: Pulse oximetry, chest x-ray, arterial blood gas (ABG), and a CT scan. Chronic bronchitis may last a lifetime but the illness can be controlled. Treatments are used to alleviate symptoms. This type of bronchitis is not curable, but it's manageable. The best course of treatment is to be as infirmed as you can, see your doctor, take any recommended medications, and get yourself back into shape as much as you can. Bronchitis can be bothersome but there are things you can do that will help. Start towards working it out, and you'll be feeling a lot better in no time at

Chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic asthma are the main three conditions that make up COPD. Emphysema causes

I will analyse the prevalence of the condition and what the potential causes may be. My interests have been directed to pre hospital care and community lead treatment packages, which are potentially available to the patient, as this is the acute environment, which I will have contact with in my employment as a paramedic. The initial reading was to understand COPD as a chronic condition, what is COPD? and its prevalence in the population. The (World health organisation, 2000), states that one in four deaths in the world are caused by COPD. In 2010 (Vos T Flaxman etal, 2012), says globally there were approximately 329 million, which is 4.8% of the population who are affected by this chronic condition, In the UK (NICE, 2010), have estimated that 3 million people suffer from COPD, with more yet to be diagnosed. This information about the amount of people living with this condition was surprising, as I little knowledge of its existence. During the early 1960’s (Timothy Q. Howes, 2005), says the term COPD had been designated as a single term unifying all the chronic respiratory diseases. Since then the term COPD, has been sub divided in to three umbrella areas, Bronchitis, Emphysema and Chronic asthma, which are separate conditions, which I have been previously aware of as their individual conditions. The 58 year old patient who we visited,

The main characterizing feature of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is that there is limitation of airflow because the smoke of cigarette directly damages the epithelial cells of the